How Do Psychosocial Support Groups in North India Support Collective Action for Mental Health? A Qualitative Study Using a Caring Methodology

Abstract

In resource-poor settings in South Asia, there are many informal assets in communities that support mental health. Using participatory approaches and a ‘caring methodology’ we aimed to examine whether women's psychosocial support groups improved mental health knowledge, safe social spaces, and collective action. We also hoped to act collectively for mental health through the project and to reflexively consider how this methodology cared for participants and researchers. We conducted this community-based qualitative study in 2016, across three sites in Dehradun district, Uttarakhand, Northern India. Data were collected through focus group discussions with women involved in support groups (N = 10, representing 59 women) and key informant interviews (N = 8), as well as field notes, journals, and reflexive discussions. We analysed data using thematic analysis. This research both researched care and provided mental health care. We found that support groups as well as caring methodologies led to increased mental health knowledge, safer social spaces, improved mental health and more equal gender relations. This methodology also supported women to act collectively to support each other and share their mental health knowledge with others. The caring methodology was constrained by stark asymmetries in literacy and educational status between researchers and participants.